Charles H. Banov MD - Office Upstairs: A Doctors Journey

A very compelling memoir by a wise, curious, insightful physician. He candidly shares his lifes story and describes many very touching and, at times, incredibly humorous events. This should be required reading for all medical students and those involved in the field of health care.

Edward J. OConnell, MD
Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics, Allergy/Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Emeritus Editor in Chief of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

On one level, Office Upstairs demonstrates the value of personal story as a vehicle for understanding history, especially as it relates to the practice of medicine, the Jewish experience and the South. On another, it shows the kindness, good humor and ethical values of an eminent physician, a mensch with extraordinary judgment and deep humility.

Martin Perlmutter, PhD
Professor of Philosophy
Director, Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program, College of Charleston

Come along for an entertaining and heartwarming ride as seen through the eyes of Charlestons pioneering allergist.

Edward M. Gilbreth, MD
Charleston physician, author and contributor to The Post and Courier

Charles H. Banov, MD

Published by The History Press
Charleston, SC 29403
www.historypress.net

Copyright 2007 by Charles H. Banov, MD
All rights reserved

Cover design by Marshall Hudson.

Hardcover edition first published 2007
Paperback edition published in 2008
e-book edition 2011

ISBN 978.1.61423.243.8

Library of Congress CIP data applied for.

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

To my wife, Nancy, who encouraged me to write this story, and to my patients, who helped me live it.

Every attempt was made in this memoir to ensure accuracy. Since many of the people mentioned are deceased and some of the incidents occurred more than fifty years ago, my personal records, diary, interviews, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks and public records were utilized extensively. When appropriate, fictitious names were given to some of the characters in the stories, but the incidents described were recorded as remembered and documented.

I appreciate the help given me in preparation of this book by my children, Drs. Mark and Michael Banov and Lori Banov Kaufmann, as well as my son-in-law Yadin Kaufmann and daughter-in-law Lisa Banov. The suggestions of my sisters, Caren Masem and Linda Stern, and my brother-in-law, Dr. Paul Masem, were helpful. I thank Oprah Winfrey for her suggestion that I write a book in the first place. I am grateful for the advice given me by my classmate Dr. Walter Bonner, who is also an author; my colleague Dr. Curtis Worthington Jr., director of the Waring Historical Library; historian Robert Rosen; author Jack Bass; journalist Sandy Katz; physician/writer Dr. Edward M. Gilbreth; as well as editors Professor Carol Anne Davis and Lynne McNeil and my major editors, Anne Kostick and Stephen Hoffius.

However, a special thank you goes to my daughter Pamela, who because of her mental disability could not read the manuscript and will never be able to do so. But I thank her for teaching us that there is a meaningful life to be lived and enjoyed by every human being. While writing the book I derived my greatest encouragement and strength from the only contribution she could make: the gift of a smile!

In April 1993, I was asked to participate in a postgraduate course at the lovely Camelback resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. On the first evening, the recreation staff offered a nature walk into the desert areas near the resort as a before-dinner exercise. A small group of walkers assembled. All of them seemed like the usual type of guest at an elegant resort, except for one woman. She was not wearing designer clothes; she had a kerchief on her head, a white T-shirt and blue exercise tights. My wife Nancy recalls those details; all I remember is that she had very large sunglasses. She was walking by herself, and I had the feeling that the other guests were avoiding her.

I felt some empathy for her, so I decided to walk along with her and try to make her feel comfortable. She proved to be a charming conversationalist. I pointed out all the celebrity homes I knew of in the area, and she appeared interested.

She asked about my home in Charleston. She said she had visited our city recently and enjoyed it very much. We talked about my work as a physician in the South. When I told her some of my stories, she suggested that I write a book about my experiences. I had not really considered writing a book, but I thought, If this lady finds my stories interesting, maybe I should do it. I thought it was fortunate that I had chosen to keep her company. I filed write a book in my mental list of things to do.

My wife walked with another group. When we returned to the resort, I bid farewell to my companion and rejoined Nancy and our friends. I apologized for having spent the entire walk with this lady. I explained that she was by herself, and Id felt sorry for her.

Do you know whom you were walking with? Nancy asked me.

No, I replied.

She gave me a look of disbelief. That was Oprah Winfrey!

After dinner that night, Ms. Winfrey appeared for her lecture elegantly dressed, poised, charming and perfectly recognizable.

So I can honestly lay the responsibility for this books existence on Oprahs suggestion that I write down my stories. Blame her.

A cartoonist once depicted an announcement from proud Jewish parents proclaiming the birth of their child. The card proclaimed the name of the baby Dr. ______. Perhaps I was not born a doctor, as the cartoon implied, but my curious adventures in medicine certainly began that early.

I was delivered by a veterinarian. I doubt that this was what my mother intended when she went to the hospital to give birth to me, but I was a breech baby, the family doctor was having a hard time and the specialist on duty, who happened to be in the building, also happened to be a veterinarian. In spite of the implications of entering the world ass-backward at the hands of a horse doctor, Ive always felt lucky: after all, it mightve been a dentist.

This was in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1930. Charleston is one of the most interesting and beautiful cities in America. It has been the home of the largest Jewish community of colonial times, with roots going back to the 1690s; an early commercial center with a very cosmopolitan, cultured atmosphere; an important location in the War Between the States, from the firing on Fort Sumter that launched the war to the citys capture by Union forces four years later. Charleston has survived economic depressions and economic revivals, a major earthquake in 1886 and several powerful hurricanes.